Board Taps Stewart To Head Florida Department Of Education

Pam Stewart becomes Florida's 4th Education Commissioner in three years

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Pam Stewart has been tapped to head the Florida Department of Education.

Stewart has twice served as interim education commissioner: the first time was last year when Gerard Robinson resigned after a year on the job. Stewart had been considered a favorite to replace Robinson, but she didn’t apply for the job, and it went instead to former Indiana School Superintendent Tony Bennett, who stepped down this summer over a school grading flap in the Hoosier State.

Stewart’s nomination to the post came amid concerns Florida would have a tough time finding a person to take the job, with some education watchers saying the loss of three education commissioners on Governor Rick Scott’s watch might cause top candidates to think twice before considering becoming Florida’s education chief.

Stewart also takes the helm as the department continues to grapple with whether to keep or scrap tests aligned with new student learning goals called Common Core – standards politicians on both sides of the aisle are now calling for the state to reject.

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Florida Board of Education officials say they haven’t decided whether to launch a new search to replace ousted Commissioner Tony Bennett, or look to someone in-house to fill the void.

Interim Education Commissioner Pam Stewart is serving in that capacity for the second time. But the Associated Press cites a sitting board member as saying it would be beneficial to continue with someone experienced with Florida schools as the next full-time commissioner—and Stewart would seem to fit the bill.

A national search for Florida’s next Education Commissioner continues after the state board extended the deadline for applicants. But the state may not have to look too far for a suitable candidate. As Lynn Hatter reports, the apparent front-runner for the post is the person who’s temporarily filling in on the job. And she’s earning rave reviews from both sides of the political aisle.